Saturday, March 24, 2012

Memorable Quotes from Thomas Jones

... at the Fairfax Genealogical Society Conference I attended this weekend:

“My genealogical program of choice is Microsoft Word.”

Mine, too. Though I copy a lot of what I put down into the notes page on my Reunion program. He explained that there are just so many things you can do in Word - timelines, tables, etc.

“It would be extremely hypocritical for me to talk about organizing your office” (with just the hint of a beginning of a grin). You could hear the intake of breath in the audience, followed by chuckles. Take comfort, fellow slobs - even the great ones struggle with those piles of paper!

In response to the question “So Ellener married 3 times?’ -- “So far....”

Other awesome things from the Conference:

Great presentations - attended all of Thomas Jones’ presentations (and I think I’ve only seen one of them before), two of Dear Myrtle’s (she’s just amazing - so informative and inspiring and makes genealogy so much fun (and funny!)), Chuck Mason’s “Defining the Problem and Mapping the Research Plan” (I so have to pay serious attention to this and get my act together), and Pam Sayre’s “Effectively Using NARA’s Finding Aids and Website” (brilliance and energy in action - when she explains how to “drill down” in the website and shows two or three different ways to attack a search on the website, it’s awe-inspiring (and would be overwhelming if she didn’t have great notes in the presentation summary)).

I’m finally getting my autosomal DNA testing done with Family Tree DNA! Bob McLaren did a mini-presentation on DNA testing for genealogy on Friday night and announced conference sale prices for Family Tree DNA. So on Saturday I sat down at Bob’s booth, did the swabs, filled out the info, and out it will go. Plus I’m going to see if my male Moore cousins will do the 67-marker test.

Won a door prize - a subscription to Archives.com!

It was soooo wonderful to have a genealogy weekend.

I miss my blog.

I miss my fellow genealogy bloggers and commenters and research cousins.

17 comments:

I have to laugh every time I read the name, "Tom Jones," in a genealogy blog. Someone in my family line married into a Jones line--her husband's name was Tom! Somehow, whenever I see the name, it makes me want to grab pen and paper and get ready to take notes...

I'm interested in your DNA experience. My husband is on the verge of doing that, as it turns out someone is doing a surname study that he would fit in. Please post updates on your discoveries from the DNA process!

Will do, Jacqi! I am excited that I finally took this step - can't wait to see what turns up. And thank you for your words of encouragement - work is still going to be intense for a while, but I'll try to get in at least a few posts in the meantime.

You're right, Barbara - they must be letting their standards slip! (The little secret is that I live in the Fairfax County part of Falls Church, rather than the city part - we're not rich enough to live there....)

Tom Jones is so delightful - and he's right, word processing has a lot to offer! (Though I've been using Pages more than word lately.) Thank you for the encouragement - I'm hoping not to be "missing in action" too much longer.

I am envious about the DNA workshop. This is an area in which I would like to expend some time and energy. The only local workshop in the last couple of years was the weekend when I was inundated with family and such doings. Love to see a blog on your DNA delvings. BTW, nice to see you digging your way out --- I know the feeling --- periodically, I disappear to shovel a pathway to the top of the heap.

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About Me

After spending my formative years paying no heed to all the family stories, I got hooked on genealogy later in life and am now trying to catch up. My husband and I had long ago developed an interest in graveyards and have enjoyed visiting them while on vacation. I have started two Graveyard Rabbit blogs as a way, in addition to my participation in Findagrave, to help make information to other people who are researching their family history.
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